2 Turtle Doves & 1 Partridge- Tis The Season For The 111th Christmas Bird Count

from TreeHugger.com
by Bonnie Hulkower, New York, New York

This holiday season marks the 111th year of the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The 111th CBC runs from December 14, 2010 through January 5, 2011. It is the longest running citizen science survey in the world. Thousands of volunteers, "binocular brigades," have already braved winter's chill, rain and snow to record changes in populations of bird species. This tradition was started by ornithologist Frank Chapman on December 25, 1900. Chapman, an officer in the National Audubon Society, suggested starting a Christmas trend of counting birds instead of killing them. Previously, people would spend their Christmas day competitively hunting birds and small mammals. Chapman's group counted and recorded the birds they saw, thus seeding a conservation effort and database that has grown over the last century.

For that 1st count, there were 27 bird observers who participated in 25 places in North America. Since then, the CBC has been held every year. In recent years, there have been more than 60,000 observers involved in over 2,100 places and 17 countries counting more than 2,000 species and 56 million birds. The Audubon Society, who sponsors the CBC, now partners with organizations in other counties such as Bird Studies Canada, the Red Nacional de Observadores de Aves (RNOA, National Network of Bird Observers) and the Instituto Alexander von Humboldt of Colombia.

The CBCs are conducted by volunteers attempting to record every bird they encounter within a designated 15-mile diameter "count circle" on a given calendar day. The volunteers split into small groups and follow assigned routes, which are fairly consistent each year, counting each bird they see. In some count circles, people also watch feeders. Not all the area in the count circles is covered, and not every bird along the routes is identified. The rules prohibit counting birds when retracing one's route, except for species the group hasn't seen before, in an attempt to avoid double counting. Flocks are difficult to count precisely, so an expert will estimate the number for that species during the morning or evening and usually no individuals are counted at other times. Accuracy is also assured by having new volunteers join an established group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher.

The volunteers come for the fun, but the surveys are actually valuable for science and used in peer reviewed studies. The surveys (available back to 1900) are added to a growing database that provides information to researchers who study winter bird populations across North America. Local CBC data are then sent to the National Audubon Society. In aggregate, they're used to monitor the fluctuating populations of species, by extension the health of the birds and their environment, and what needs to be done to protect them. The data informs the U. S. State of the Birds Report, issued by the Department of the Interior each year. CBC analyses also reveal how some species have been experiencing declines. For example, the Common Grackle has declined by 60% over the past 40 years. In parts of California, the yellow-billed cuckoo, clapper rail, willow flycatcher and burrowing owl have been in decline, largely because of loss of wetlands and salt marsh habitats. But on occasion, the CBCs also show recoveries... read more story at TreeHugger.com

New Book Explores Relationship Between Economics, Environment

GUELPH, Ontario December 21, 2010 - University of Guelph News Release

No matter how determined a government is to tackle an environmental problem, unless lawmakers get the economics right, a policy will fail, according to a new book by a University of Guelph economist.

"We've seen that especially in the case of greenhouse gases, where, for 20 years, targets have been set and then ignored, agreements have been signed and then abandoned, and policies have been adopted only to prove politically unsaleable,” said Prof. Ross McKitrick, an environmental economist.

McKitrick admits the relationship between economic growth and the environment is complex. But he says that relationship needs to be better understood because environmental policies are in the public eye and posing serious challenges for policy-makers around the world.

“Right now, there is a gap between what advanced students are learning in textbooks and what you need to know to work in the field,” McKitrick said.

Bridging that gap is the intent of his book, Economic Analysis of Environmental Policy, published this month by the University of Toronto Press. The book provides tools for developing policy analysis skills applied to current challenges and debates.

One recent example is the Senate’s voting down of Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act. Some senators noted that the proposed rules would likely cost more than the purported benefits, McKitrick said.

“But at the same time, most governments, including Canada's, have done a poor job of identifying cost-minimizing strategies, so the actions we end up seeing cost a lot and accomplish very little.”

In his book, McKitrick outlines core theories of environmental valuation for use in policy development and discusses current issues such as pollution problems, regulatory standards, emission taxes and liability.

When setting regulatory standards, for example, it’s crucial to identify not just the targets, but also whether incentives are created that undermine the ultimate goal of the policy, he said.

“Some policies induce more truth-telling than others. In other words, different policies create different incentives for firms to reveal information about how much it costs to comply.”

In some cases a firm is better off revealing the information the regulator needs to get the implementation right, McKitrick said. But in other cases, the incentives favour the withholding of information.

“So when announcing a policy proposal, governments need to realize that the process of collecting the information they need to make it work can be affected by the type of policy instrument.”

Economic Analysis of Environmental Policy evolved from the environmental economics courses McKitrick has been teaching at U of G for 14 years.

“My aim was to build a framework for people to think about the issues,” he said. “In addition to students, hopefully it’s useful to those working in the field, including government staff, think tanks and others who have to figure out economic analyses.”

The Man Who Stopped the Desert - How One Man Saved the Soil

from TreeHugger.com
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA

From Wangaari Maathai's Billion Tree campaign to lush permaculture landscapes in Jordan, we've seen how individuals and communities can reverse desertification and bring life back to arid soils. Now a new dramatized documentary brings us the story of Yacouba Sawadogo, an illiterate African farmer whose pioneering techniques have, according to one expert, done more for soil conservation in the Sahel region of Africa than all of the national and international soil experts combined. It's amazing stuff.

Using, and then enhancing, traditional "zai" techniques for restoring degraded land, which involve planting seeds directly into pits that have been enhanced with small handfuls of composted dung, Yacouba Sawadogo has spent over a quarter century experimenting with his soils, and then teaching his fellow farmers, resulting in the successful rehabilitation of farmland, the regrowth of forests, and attention from international media and non-profit organizations who wanted to learn more about Sawadogo's techniques.

Now a new documentary, that includes a dramatization of Sawadogo's life, and the struggles he has faced in gaining acceptance for his approach, is set to bring his story to a broader audience. The movie traces Sawadogo's story from his early education, through his days researching and developing his farming techniques, to his recent journey to the USA to participate in an Oxfam panel on greening the Sahel... read more story at TreeHugger.com

Gift of Hallmark Recordable Storybooks lets Soldiers Read to Their Kids Back Home

TORONTO, December 23, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - For Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan, separation from their children and other little loved ones back home can be a painful part of their duty, especially at Christmas time.

Hallmark Canada is helping to bridge that distance with a donation of 2,400 Recordable Storybooks to the Canadian Forces' annual Operation Santa Claus initiative, which provides gifts to our soldiers serving in Afghanistan during the holiday period. The books contain digital audio recorders that enable parents to record themselves and send the book back home - then, when children turn the pages, they hear Mom or Dad's voice reading them the story.

"Nothing can take the place of being home for the holidays, but we can help in at least a virtual way to bring our brave men and women serving in Afghanistan a little closer to their children at Christmas," said Chris Kelly, Vice President of Consumer Solutions and Brand Experience for Hallmark Canada.

"It's a special way to help them share their love, even though they're so far apart."

About Hallmark Canada

Hallmark Cards, Inc. is the world's largest manufacturer of greeting cards and other personal expression products. Hallmark was founded by Joyce C. Hall in 1910 and currently employs more than 740 artists, designers, stylists, photographers, writers and editors, who develop nearly 20,000 products each year. Hallmark Canada is the industry leader whose products are sold through its 240 Gold Crown stores as well as select grocery stores, drug stores, mass-merchandisers and discount stores. In Canada, Hallmark's headquarters are in Toronto.

Social Network Christmas an Inspirational Video from GodTube

Social Network Christmas - This video is an artistic take on how the story of the nativity might have read had a social network existed at the time of Jesus's birth. Follow this historical period as it unfolds as a digital narrative. This vignette is great for highlighting the truths and circumstances of our Savior's birth in a fresh, unique way.

Salvation Army Still $8 Million away from Christmas Kettle Campaign Goal in Final Week

As Christmas Season Winds Down, Kettles Only Half Full

TORONTO, December 20, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - With Christmas only days away, The Salvation Army is calling on Canadians nationwide to support the Christmas Kettle Campaign. To date, The Salvation Army has collected $9.7 million in the nearly 2,000 kettles on street corners and at retail outlets nationwide, a little more than half of the campaign's $18 million goal. Kettles will remain on the street until Christmas Eve.

"The week prior to Christmas is always extremely important to the campaign, but we're asking Canadians to dig especially deep this year if we are going to reach our ambitious goal," said Graham Moore, Territorial Secretary for Public Relations and Development for The Salvation Army in Canada. "Demand for Salvation Army service continues at record levels in many areas, so we're hopeful that giving will pick up in this final week."

The Salvation Army launched the innovative "Fill the Kettle" program this year, enabling donors - for the first time ever - to track donations at physical kettle locations across Canada throughout the season. Using Google technology, visitors to www.FilltheKettle.com can locate and even make a secure online donation directly to an individual kettle in their community.

"Donations to The Salvation Army are critical for us at Christmas time, with many communities relying heavily on Christmas fundraising to operate programs throughout the year," said Moore. "With the money we collect in this year's Christmas Kettles, we will continue to work to restore hope and dignity for vulnerable individuals during the Christmas season and throughout 2011."

The 2010 Christmas Campaign helps The Salvation Army provide direct, compassionate, hands-on service to more than 1.6 million people in Canada each year, restoring hope and dignity to the most vulnerable in society. The Salvation Army's annual Christmas Campaign has grown into one of Canada's most significant and recognizable annual charitable events. Last year, more than $18 million was raised in the kettles nationwide, an all time record. The Salvation Army relies on the support of numerous corporate partners, including WalMart and Loblaw Companies Limited, which allow Christmas kettles to be placed at their stores each year.

Donations to the 2010 Christmas Campaign can be made at www.SalvationArmy.ca, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), at your local kettle, or via mail to The Salvation Army, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto, ON M4H 1P4. Donors can also give by texting "HOPE" to 45678 from most mobile carriers in Canada.

About The Salvation Army:

The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and more than 120 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.

Canadians are risk averse new study reveals

While other nations grapple with illegal drugs and earthquakes, Canadians are concerned over the rising cost of living despite stable economy

TORONTO, December 20, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - As 2010 winds down, a recent study commissioned by global insurer RSA explores the most common and disparate fears felt this year and shared by citizens of seven countries including Canada. When asked what our top five risks are, Canadians responded with the rising cost of living first, followed by climate change, damage to the natural environment, cancer and finally speeding traffic/dangerous drivers.

Although the concerns identified are reasonable, Canadians put disproportionately more weight on these risks than other countries with far less economic and social stability, leading experts to wonder - are we risk averse?

While Canada - a member of the G8 and one of the most fiscally stable countries in the world - called out the rising cost of living as our number one concern, other nations such as China cited life-threatening earthquakes as their greatest concern while Poland identified drunk driving.

"Ironically, the risks Canadians are most concerned about reflect their optimism about the future, and the strong performance Canada has turned in through the Great Recession," says Richard Worzel, C.F.A. and futurist, of Futuresearch. " Whereas citizens of other countries are concerned mainly about direct physical dangers, Canadians are concerned about more subtle dangers that take longer to make themselves felt, like the rising cost of living, climate change, cancer, and environmental degradation. While these risks are certainly real enough, they are still much more intangible than the risks that people elsewhere are concerned about."

In addition to polling current attitudes toward risk, the report - researched by The Futures Company - takes a historical look at what real risks and threats faced humanity 300 years ago, as well as a forecast of what risks we are likely to face in the next 100 years.

"As an insurer, we are constantly measuring and evaluating risks, which is why it's so fascinating to learn how risk has evolved over the last 300 years, from concerns over agriculture to climate change," says Rowan Saunders, CEO and President, RSA Canada. "As we celebrate our 300 years in business, we're preparing for the 300 years ahead of us that will bring new challenges and some relief to those we currently experience."

The report also reveals the following findings from the other countries surveyed, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Poland, China, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates:

The top risks identified per country are:

...The UK: Anti social behavior
...Sweden: Damage to the natural environment
...Poland: Drunk driving
...China: Earthquakes
...The UAE: Rising cost of living
...Argentina: Illegal drugs


...'Bullying by other children' is identified as the top risk for children in The UK, Sweden, Canada and Argentina. Poland named 'using drugs', China reported 'pandemics' and the UAE listed 'unsafe ingredients in food' as the highest risk for children in their countries

...In 100 years time, some predict there will be worries over the abuse of genetic profiling and losing touch with reality as a result of our over reliance on virtual interaction

...In the UK, 40 per cent of participants felt significant risk from a terrorist attack

...60 per cent of Chinese respondents felt cancer was a significant risk for them. In China, approximately 1 in 5 rural and 1 in 4 urban deaths are due to cancer

Church Leader Says Stephen Harper Fails Test of Leadership

TORONTO Ontario, December 14, 2010 United Church of Canada Release: - The news last week that Canada was ranked the fourth worst of 57 countries evaluated for their climate change performance is a shameful ranking for a country that could do so much better, says the Moderator of The United Church of Canada.

In a commentary published in today’s Ottawa Citizen, Moderator Mardi Tindal calls on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to exercise accountable leadership on climate change.

Tindal describes accountable leadership as accountability to truth, accountability to democracy, and accountability to our children.

“When the Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-311) was defeated in the Senate after being supported by the House of Commons, Prime Minister Harper called the bill ‘irresponsible’ and argued that its targets would throw ‘possibly millions of people out of work.’ This was a failure of leadership on at least three counts,” comments Tindal.

She argues that, while ultimately in a democracy all of us are called to exercise leadership, a prime minister has a unique position of leadership, and there are some actions that only government can take.

“Now is the time for the prime minister to introduce urgently needed legislation to replace the Climate Change Accountability Act,” says Tindal.

The full text of Tindal’s commentary, “PM fails the tests of accountability on climate change,”appears in the December 14, 2010, issue of the Ottawa Citizen.

Evangelicals May Now Hold Key to US Climate Action

from TreeHugger.com
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York

If there's one broad group of activists that that is consistently under-publicized, it's the still-growing community of evangelical environmentalists. They may go unrecognized due to the fact that the outlets (like this one) that traditionally cover green activism don't quite know what to make of them, and mainstream media tend to relegate coverage to what amounts to a handful of novelty stories. And since evangelical environmentalists break with conservative ideology, good luck finding much mention at all of such groups in right-wing outlets. But make no mistake: they comprise what could become one of the most influential climate action movements in the US.

Slate has a great story detailing the current state of evangelical environmentalism, and it offers a fascinating look of how a fractious but passionate movement is addressing the need for climate action today.

From Slate:

At the forefront of a growing evangelical "creation care" movement, [Rev. Richard Cizik, president of the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good and former top lobbyist for the National Association of Evangelicals] was instrumental in launching the Evangelical Climate Initiative, which turned a lot of heads in February 2006. Originally signed by 86 evangelical leaders--the tally is now more than 350--the ECI states that human-caused climate change is real, that the impact will be felt disproportionately by the world's poor, and that Christians are called to take action. Pushback was fierce, and it still is.

...read more story at TreeHugger.com.

Canadians plan on sending an average of 15.6 cards in the mail this year

When it comes to holiday greetings, Canadians prefer cards in the mail

OTTAWA, December 13, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The tradition of the holidays still resonates strongly with Canadians. In a survey conducted by Harris/Decima on behalf of Canada Post in early November, 8 out of 10 Canadians expressed a strong preference to receiving a holiday card in the mail. This is an increase compared to 2008, when a similar survey showed 71% of Canadians prefer receiving cards in the mail.

According to the survey, Canadians will send an average of 15.6 cards this year, with 23% of them sending more than 21 cards each. For those planning to send cards electronically, the average drops to 5, while a large proportion (60%) are not planning to send holiday greetings electronically. Women are more likely to send greetings by mail (75%) compared to men (62%). As expected, younger Canadians were more open to receiving electronic cards.

The survey also showed regional differences. For example, Atlantic Canadians were most likely to send mail (83%) and by far preferred receiving a card in the mail (92%). Quebecers and Ontarians were more open to sending electronic greetings.

"While Canadians are communicating electronically more than ever before, there is still nothing better than sending and receiving a card in the mail, especially at this time of year," says Mary Traversy, Senior vice- president, Transaction Mail. "We're ready to deliver all those greetings and recommend getting them in the mail by Friday to avoid disappointment."

Norfolk Street United Church presents A Christmas Carol Swing-a-Long

Featuring the John Zadro Jazz Trio

Sunday, December 12th at 7 p.m.

At Norfolk Street United Church,

Corner of Norfolk & Cork Streets, Guelph

Freewill Offering. For more info, call 519.822.6165

John Zadro Biography

John has been connected to sacred and liturgical music since early childhood when he spent his formative years as a choir boy at Guelph's Church of Our Lady. By age 16 he began studying pipe organ and secured a position as organist at St. John's Church in Guelph.

His studies on piano began at age 9 and by age 18 he began performing jazz and popular music on a professional level. He simultaneously continued his studies of classical music into his early twenties completing an Honours Degree in Music at the University of Guelph and obtaining an Associate Certificate as a piano instructor with the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music. He has since studied privately with some of the most noted instructors in the country.

John has over thirty-five years experience working in Christian churches and has performed over thirty-five hundred engagements as a professional pianist. His background in liturgical, classical, jazz and popular idioms can be witnessed in his enthusiastic approach to modern gospel music.

John is at present the Organist and Choir Director at Norfolk Street United Church in Guelph, Ontario. Join us anytime to hear his talents live!

How irrational thinking is harmful to our future

OTTAWA, December 1, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadians enjoy one of the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supplies in the world and yet farmers are constantly forced to defend the choices they make to deliver these benefits.

Michael Specter, a staff writer at The New Yorker, will explore the ways irrational thinking about scientific advancements like plant biotechnology may present unique concerns to the world.

"This is the greatest time there has ever been on this planet, by any measure that you wish to choose," Specter says. "And yet the chilling effect caused by denying the scientific evidence on a whole range of topics, including genetically modified foods, may actually prevent useful science from coming to fruition."

Specter has been a writer for the New Yorker for more than a decade, where he writes about science and politics. His new book, Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet and Threatens Our Lives, dives into the complex science bias and critical issues in making the right choices for our future.

"Plant biotechnology benefits Canadian farmers by offering them a tool that can help increase yields and enhances on-farm sustainability by giving farmers the option to reduce or eliminate tilling, which improves soil quality and reduces erosion," said Trish Jordan, president of the Council for Biotechnology Information, which sponsored Specter's lecture. "It's absolutely imperative that when it comes down to making choices about how we're going to feed the world and protect the environment that facts - not urban myths or manufactured worries - are what we base our decisions on."

GrowCanada(R) is a partnership of agriculture's most influential associations that works together to ensure Canada is a world leader in providing new products and solutions for agricultural, nutritional, health, energy and environmental challenges in Canada and around the world. The annual GrowCanada(R) conference celebrates the role of agriculture and all that agriculture does to better the lives of Canadians.